Paper tester



Dec. 9, 1924. 1,518,806

E. A. MAHANNAH PAPER TESTER original Filed Sept. 12, 1921 s sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 9, 1924.

1,518,806 E. A. MAHANNAH PAPER TESTER Original Filed Sept. '12, 1921 5 Sheet5 5heet 2 E. A. MAHANNAH Dec, 9, 1924.

PAPER TESTER Original Filed Sept. 12, 1921 5 Sheets sheet Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT- oFFlcr-z.N .u

EVERETT A. MAHANNAH, OF N'ORTl-l" TNAWANDA, NEW YORK.

f PAPER TESTER.

Application filed September 12, `1921, Serial No. 500,115. RenewedA May 14, 1924.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, Evnnnrr A. MAHAN- NAH, a. citizen of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper Testers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in paper tester for sizecontents, thickness and closeness of formation.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of this characterin which a sample piece of the paper to ybe tested is placed between two dies, one containing pure or acidified water, and the dies forming the ,terminals of an electrically controlled timing means set in motion by the turning on of the water, and stopped by the moisture passing through the sheet of paper and completing the circuit through said dies, the period of time in which the water takes to saturate the piece of paper determining' the size contents, thickness and closeness of formation.` l

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus in which the water pressure vis determined, and varied, thus increasing the efficiency of the apparatus with paper of different thickness, size contents and closeness of formation,l and at the same time producing an apparatus in which a positive record is automatically made and does not require an attendant after setting the apparatus in operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effective apparatus of this character having certain details of structure and combination of parts, hereinafter fully set forth.

ln the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved testing apparat-us.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevationl showing the dies and means for supp-lying the testing liquiththereto.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sideelevation, partly in section showing a dilferent form of liquid supply. Y

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the liquid die showing the electrical terminals carried thereby.

Fig. 5 1s a side elevation of the instrument board showing the magnet operating the circuit 1n dotted lines.

Fig'. G is a diagrammatical view showing l a modified form of circuit and liquid control.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing the `combined valve and snap switch.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 rep-` resents the die rigidly supported upon the base 2, which may be supported in any desired manner, and has at its upper end an vided with a threaded bore 5fL through which is screwed a threaded bolt 7. The upper end'of the bolt 7 is provided with a hand wheel 8 by means of which the bolt is raised and lowered in the arm 5, as will `be later described. The arm 6 adjacent its outer end is provided with a rectangular opening 9, through which passes a correspondingly shaped bar 10. The upper end of the bar 10 is provided with a recess 11, into which lextends a smooth round end 12 of the bolt 7. This end 12 of the bolt 7 is provided with a. circumferential groove 13 into which extends the screw 14, carried by the rectangular bar 10. By this arrangement it will be seen that the bolt 7 maybe screwed up and `down in the arm 5, carrying with it the rectangular bar 10, said bar heilig' held against 'rotation by the rectan- Igula-r opening 9 in the arm 6.

-Rigidly carried by the lower end of the rectangular bar 10 is a die 15 of a hollow form, and .having at its lower end a series of openings 16 communicating with the hollow portion thereof, and with the lower face. The lower face of the die 15 has a gasket 17 surrounding that portion beyond the opening 1G to form a tight joint with the lower die when thev upper die is forced down by the threaded bolt 7, heretofore described. Communicating with the upper end of the hollow portion of the upper die isa liquid supply pipe'lS, having a valve 19 arranged so as to control the supply of liquid through the hollow die. Connected to the pipe 18 is a fiexible connection 20, which Carried by the base 2 is an uphas connected to its outer end a pipe 21, which leads to the liquid supply tank 22. This liquid supply pipe is preferably of the form shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and is provided `wit]iifrraduations vtoiiindicate the amount of liquid inv the tan'lf, and' whereby the pressure of the liquid can be determined and varied. The upper end of the tank 1s drawn inwardly, as indicated at 23, and provided with a valve 24, which is in communication with another tank 25, and whereby the. tank 22 may be supplied with any desired amount of liquid to vary the liquid pressure, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The liquid employed in testing the paper is preferably pure or acidilied water, as these have been found to be the most practical liquids.

The movable die has communicating with its lower end a discharge pipe 26, which has a flexible connection 27 with the pipe 28. The pipe 28 is provided with afaucet 29 whereby the water may be drained out of the hollow die 15 after the completion of the test. The die 15 is also provided with a 'water gauge 30 so that it may be readily determined how much liquid is in the hollow die.

In the practical use of the invention at the point close to the base 2, I employ what I term an instrument boarc 3 which carries an electrically controlled timing clock 32. This clock has a minute hand 33, and a second hand 34, arranged to register the time the clock has been running. In other words, it is more on the order of the Aordinary stop clock or watch having means whereby the second and minute hands may be set back to 60 so that at each operation of the tester, the exact time it has been in operation is recorded or indicated on the clock. Arranged on the instrument board 31 are the two magnets 35 and 36 having their cores 37 and 38 arranged in a horizontal alignment in a slightly spaced relation. Arranged between the cores is an armature 39 which is preferably of a laminated form, and is carried by the pivoted compound relay bar 40. This bar, as shown in Fig. 5, is pivoted at 41, and is normally held in contact with either 'the core 37 or the core 38 by means of the spring 42. This spring as shown is connected to the armature 39 at 43, and has its lower end connected to the thumb screw 44, so that the tension of the spring may be varied to insure the proper throwing of the armature when the magnets are energized, as will be later described. i

The compound relay bar 40 has connected to its outer end a iexible, electrical conductor or wire 45, which has connected thereto a wire 46, which leads upwardly and-is connected at 47 to the magnet 35. The electrical circuit or current passes from the magnet 35 through the wire 48 upwardly through the rheostat 49, and from said rheostat through the wire 50 to the battery or source of electrical supply. This source of supply is not shown, ut can be either a battery or a direct connection with any electrical supply. The other terminal of the electrical circuit is indicated at 51, which leads down and is connected directly to the die 15, as indicated at 52.

Connected to the wire 48 leading from the magnet 35 is the wire 53, which extends over and is connected to the magnet 36. Leading from the magnet 36 is the other terminal of the electric circuit, which is indicated by 54, and which extends down and is connected to the flexible wire 55, which in turn is connected to the contact point 56 carried by the compound relay bar 40. Arranged below the compound relay bar 40 adjacent its outer ends are the two contact plates 57 and 58. The plate 57 has connected thereto a wire 59 leading down and connected to the stationary die 1, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Interposed between the die 1 and the contact plate 57 is a condenser 60, which as readily understood by those skilled in the art, is for the purpose of storing the electrical current, and discharging it very rapidly so that the magnet supplied through the same is rapidly energized and the armature drawn over by the same.

Connected to the upper die 15 in an electrical conductoror wire 61, which leads through the switch 62, and from there through the wire 63 to the contact plate Connected to the wire 63 is a condenser 64 performing the same functionas the condenser 60.

The compound relay bar rocks, as heretofore described, upon the pivot 41 and has a wiped electrical connection with the contact plates 57 and 58' so as to prevent any deposits thereon, and thus insures a perfect contact.

The armature 39 has pivotally connected at its upper end a brake lever 65, which extends upwardly adjacent the clock 32, and has the hook end 66 adapted to engage the shaft 67 of the escapement wheel 68 of the clock, and when in the position shown in full lines of Fig. 1 of the drawing, the brake is moved away from the shaft 67 and the clock free to run.

In the operation of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, a piece of paper 69 is laid upon the bed plate 3, the screw bolt 7 turned down by means of the hand wheel 8, forcing the die 15 down so that the gasket 17 will firmly press the paper upon the bed plate and form a tight joint to prevent the escape of the liquid from the hollow die. The electrical switch 62 is then turned on, the armature 39 being in the poleu sition shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The valve 19 is turned on allowing the liquid to flow through the pipe 18 into the hollow die. As the liquid rises, it comes in contact with the insulated contact point 70 carried by the die 15. The current passes from the source of supply through the wire 51, and the liquid in the hollow die completes the circuit through the switch 62, wire 63, flexible connection 45 and wire 46 to the magnet 35, passesthrough the magnet and energizes it and out through the wire 48 to the source of supply. The magnet having been energized snaps the armature 39 `over in the po* sition shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing Drawing the brake lever out of engagement with the shaft 67 and the balance wheel 68, the magnet allows the clock to start. It being understoodthat both the minute and second hands having been set at 60, the clock continues to run until the liquid in the hollow die 15 saturates and soaks through the piece of paper 69 whereby an electrical circuit is completedk through the dies. This circuit passes from the source of supply through the wire 51, die 15 and die 1 out through the wire 59, and thence through the flexible connection 55 and 54 to the magnet 36, and energizes the same. The circuit continues through the magnet out through the wire 53 to the wire 50, and to the source of supply. The energizing of the magnet 36 snaps the armature 39 over against the core 38 drawing the brake lever 65 against the shaft 67 of the balance wheel 68 of the clock and stops the same.y The reading of the clock will then indicate in` minutes and seconds, the length of time it took the liquid to soak through the paper, and therefore, the amount of size contained in the paper, or the thickness or closeness of formation can be determined.

In the form shown in VFig.f6, instead of having the liquid completing the circuit for energizing the starting magnet 35, Ihave shown a liquid controlling valve 71 of the combination form, so that when the same is operated, to turn the liquid on through the pipe 18 to the upper die 15, the switch is closed, and the electrical circuit passes through the wire 51 to the wire 72 tothe switch, and out through the switch through the wire 73 to the contact plate 58, thence to the starting magnet 35, which releases the balance wheel shaft, as heretofore described, the same as when the liquid completes the circuit and thus sets the clock in operation. Upon the liquid soakingthrough the sheet of paper 69, the circuit passes through the wire 51 to the movable die 15 through the sheet of paper to the die 1, and out through the wire 74, which corresponds to the wire 59 of the form shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and thence passes vthrough the stop magnet 36 energizing the same and causing the armature 39 to be moved in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, causing the brake lever 65 to engage the shaft 67 ot' the balance wheel 68 and stop the clock.

The switch 71 is of the form shown in Fig. 7. The liquid pipe 18 leading from the tank to the hollow die 15 is provided, as heretofore described, with a valve 75 to control the passage of the liquid through the pipe. The stem 76 has connected thereto the arm 77, which engages the plates 78 and 7 9, to which are connected the two terminals of the electrical circuit, and is an ordinary form of snap switch.

The rheostat, as shown in Fig. 1, is for the purpose of reducing the voltage through the electrical circuit in the event that the device is connected up with the ordinary city electrical supply so that the voltage may be maintained at any point desired. Connected to the wires 48 and 51 leading through the rheostat to the electrical supply is a volt meter 80, so as to indicate the voltage to allow the rheostat to be brought into operation as readily understood by those skilled in the art. i

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, I have shown means for causing a greater pressure in the movable or hollow die 15 than that obtained by a small column of water, such as is shown in the tank 22, Fig. 3, and in this form, interposed between the tank 81 and the die 15 is a pump 82 connected to the liquid supply 83 whereby the liquid in the hollow die may be put under pressure. This is obtainedby having the valve 84 arranged as shown. In order to determine the amount of pressure in the hollow die, I provide a gauge 85, as shown in Fig. 2. Knowing the exact pressure of the liquid by the gauge 85 and comparing that with the time `it takes for the liquid to saturate the paper (and thereby complete the electrical circuit), as indicated by the clock, enables one to accurately determine the quality of the paper as to its permeability by the liquid.

While Ihave shown and described these specific forms of accomplishing my results, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the same, as the invention lies broadly in the idea or' having a. sheet of paper so arranged that a liquid soaking through the same completes a circuit for stopping the timing mechanism previously set in operation.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, instead of having one terminal as shown in Fig. 3, I have shown two terminals 86 and 87 to which the wires 51 and 61 are connected, and when the liquid reaches the same the circuit is closed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1. A tester of the character described comprising two dies between which a sheet ol paper to be tested is placed, means for supplying' a liquid to the dies, an electrically controlled timing mechanism, the circuit ot which is closed through the paper when the same has become saturated with thc liquid.

2. A tester of the character described comprising two dies between which. a sheet of paper to be tested is placed, means for supplying a liquid to the dies, and an electrically stopped timinfv mechanism, the circuit or' which is closed through the paper when it has become saturated with the liquid.

3. A tester ot the character described comprising two dies between which a sheet of paper to be tested is placed and tightly clamped, means for supplying liquid to the dies, a timing mechanism set in operation, and an electric circuit closed by the saturation ot the sheet ot' paper and adapted to stop the timing mechanism to register the length oit time required by the liquid to soak through the sheet ot paper.

it. A tester ott the character described comprising two dies between which a sheet ot' paper to be tested is placed, means for sup' plying a liquid to one of the dies in Contact with the sheet of paper, a timing mechanism previously set in operation, and a circuit closed by the saturation of the liquid through the sheet of paper and the dies arranged to stop the timing mechanism.

A tester of the character described comprising a. stationary die, a vertically movable die above the stationary die and bet\\'een 'which a sheet ot paper to be tested is clamped, means for supplying a liquid to the vertically movable die in contact with the sheet of paper, a timing mechanism previously set in operation, and an electric circuit closed through the dies by the saturation ot the liquid through the sheet of paper for stopping said timing mechanism.

A tester -ot' the character described comprising a stationary die, a vertically movable die, means for moving the movable die down and tightly clamping a sheet of paper to be tested between the dies, a liquid supply for one die and adapted to come in contact with the sheet ot' paper, a timing mechanism previously set in operation, and an electric circuit adapted to stop the timing mechanism and having one terminal connected to the movable die and the other to the stationary die whereby the circuit is closed between the dies upon the satura-tion of the sheet of paper with the liquid.

7. A tester of the character described comprising two dies, means whereby a sheet ot paper to be tested may be clamped between the dies, means for supplying a liquid to one of the dies in contact with the sheet of paper, a timing mechanism previously set in operation, an electricl circuit for stopping the time mechanism and having its terminals connected to the dies whereby the circuit is completed through the paper upon the saturation thereoiI with the liquid.

8. A tester of the character described comprising a stationary die, a vertically movable die, means for moving the vertically movable die down upon the stationary die and clamping a sheet ot' paper on the stationary die, said movable die having a hol low portion with openings coinmunicatingY with its lower face, means ior supplying the liquid to the hollow die and allowing it to come in contact with the sheet of paper to lbe tested through the openings, and a timing mechanism controlled by an electrical circuit whereby the saturation ot' the sheet of paper completes the circuit through the dies for controlling the timing mechanism.

9. A tester oi the character described com prising a base, a stationary die carried thereby, an upwardly extending standard carried by the base, arms carried by the standard, a screw rod carried by the upper arm, means for operating said rod, a vertically movable angular bar passing through a. correspondingly shaped opening in the lower arm and having a loose connection with the screw rod, a die rigidly carried by the lower end oi" the angular bar whereby a sheet of paper to be tested may be clamped between the stationary and movable die.

10. A tester of the character described comprising a stationary die, a movable die adapted to clamp a sheet ot paper between the dies, said dies having their opposing Jfaces disposed horizontally, means for supplying a liquid to one of the dies with one side or' the sheet of paper in engagement with the liquid and the other side in e11- gagement with the face ot' one otthe dies, and an indicator electrically controlled, the circuit ot which is closed through the dies by the saturation of the liquid through the sheet of paper.

11. A tester of the character described comprising a stationary die, a movable die, between which a sheet of paper to be tested is clamped, said dies having their opposing faces disposed horizontally, means for supplying a. liquid to one of said dies with the liquid pressing one side of the sheet of paper and thereby forcing the other side of the sheet into Iirm engagement with the face of the other die, and an electrical circuit having its terminals connected to the 'dies whereby the circuit is closed through the sheet of paper upon the saturation ot the liquid through the same.

12. A tester of the character described comprising two dies between which a sheet oi' paper to be tested may be firmly clamped, means for supplying a liquid to one of the dies in contact with the sheet of paper, a stop clock previously set 1n operation and an electrical magnet in circuitwith the dies and yadapted to be closed through the sheet of paper upon the saturation of the liquid therethrough whereby the magnet is energized for stopping the clock and recording the length of time required for the liquid to saturate the sheet of paper.'

13. A testerof the character described comprising two dies, meansi for clamping a sheet o'f'paper to be tested between the dies, a liquid supply for one of the` dies and adapted to come in contact with the sheet of paper, a timing mechanism, an electrical circuit for releasing said timing i mechanism, and an electrical 'circuit closed by the saturation of the liquid through the sheet of paper and the dies for stopping said timing mechanism. i

`14. A tester of the character described comprising two dies, means for clamping a sheet of paper between the dies to insulate the same, a timing mechanism, an electric circuit manually operated ior releasing said timing mechanism,v and a second circuit l.closedk by the `saturation ot the liquid through the sheet of paper to stop said timing mechanism.

15. A tester con'iprisiiig two dies" betweenn which a sheet of paper to be tested may be clamped, said sheet of paper insulating the dies, means 'for supplying a liquid to one of saiddies, a timing mechanism, an elec-A trical magnet having` a circuit for ener l gizing the same, andi manually closed for, starting the timing mechanism and a second magnet having its circuit passing -through the dies and the sheet of paperwhen it has become saturated for energizing the magnet and stopping thetiming mechanism.

16. A tester comprising twodies between which a sheet of paper to be tested is tightly clamped, a liquid supply for one of said dies, means for putting said liquid under pressure, a timing mechanism7 and a cir cuit for stopping said timing mechanism and closed by the saturation of the sheet of paper to complete the circuit through the dies.

17. A tester comprising two dies between which a. sheet of paper to be tested may be tightly clamped, a liquid supply for one of said dies and adapted to come in contact with the. sheet of paper, a. timing mech anism previously set in operation, and an electrical circuit for stopping said timing mechanism and closed by the saturation of the liquid through the sheet of paper.

18. A tester comprising two dies between which a sheet of paper to be tested may be tightly clamped` a liquid supply for one of said dies and adapted to come in contact with the sheet of paper, a timing mechanism, and an electrically operated stopping mechanism for the timing mechanism having the two terminals connected to the dies whereby thek circuit is closed through the sheet of paper when 'the same has become saturated with the liquid. i

19. A tester of the character described, comprisingtwo dies, between which a sheet of paper to be tested is placed, means for supplying a` fluid to the die, -and an elec! trically vcontrolled timingmechanisin, the circuit of which is closed by the `passage of the fluid through the paper.:

20. A testerof the `character described, comprising two dies between which a sheet of' paper to be tested isplaced, means for supplying a fluid to the die'and means op-` erated by the passage ofthe fluid through paper to stop a timing mechanism; t 21. A tester of the character described, comprising two dies, between which a sheet of paper to be tested .is placed, a timing mechanism, and ineansoperated the passage of the fluid through the paper to stop said timing mechanisi `r i 22. In a device of the character described,

the combination with means for saturating.

a pieceA of paper with fiiiid, of a timing mechanism; means for starting the timing mechanism and applying a fluid tothe paper; and means `for utilizing the piece ot paper, when saturated with the fluid, to stop the timing mechanism.

23. In a device ot the character described,` vthe combination with means Yfor saturating a piece off paper with fluid, of a. timing mechanism provided` with electrical means for stopping the salme; means for simultane-l ously'` applying the fluid to the paper and starting the timing mechanism; land means for `,utilizing the piece of paper, when saturated, to close an electrical circuit arranged to stop the timing mechanism.

24. In a device of the character described, the combination with means for saturating a piece of paper with fluid, of a timing mechanism; means for simultaneously starting the timing mechanism and applying the fluid to the paper; and electrically controlled means for stopping said timing mechanism, said mechanism including an electrical circuit which is closed through the paper when it has become saturated with the fluid.

25. In devices of the character described, a timing device having braking mechanism, in an electrical circuit, adapted to apply a brake to the timing device when the circuit is closed; means for placing a piece of paper, to be tested, in said circuit, between the terminals thereof, to insulate one section of the circuit from the other, said paper being in a dry condition; means for siinultaneoiisly starting the timing mechanism and applying a satin-ating fluid to the piece ot dry paper, whereby when the liquid soals through the paper the electrical circuit is simultaneouslyy sol closed thereby through the paper, and the timing mechanism instantly braked to stop the same; whereby the timing mechanism will register the exact time required by the fluid to soak through the paper.

26. The herein described method .of testing paper, ,consisting of placing a piece of paper, in a dry condition, in the circuit of an electrically braked timing device, said electrical circuit when closed being adapted to brake the timing device; and then simultaneously applying a saturatin fluid to the paper and starting the timing evice, whereby when the paper is saturated the electrical circuit will be closed through the paper and the timing device instantly stopped; where by the .exact time required by the fluid to soak through the paper will be recorded by the timing device.

27. A tester of the character described, comprising upper and lower dies, the lower die being stationary and the upper die movable up and down relatively thereto, said dies having their cooperating 'faces disposed horizontally and adapted to clamp piece of paper between the dies; means for supplying a liquid to the upper die with the paper to be tested separating the liquid, carried by said upper die, from rthe face ot the lower die; and an electrically controlled timing device the circuit of which is closed by the passage of liquid from the upper die through (the sheet of vpaper to the face of the lower 28. A tester of the character described.

. comprising upper and lower dies, the lower of paper between the dies; the upper die having a fluid chamber and means for supplying fluid thereto, and being perforated to connect its fluid chamber with its working face, whereby the piece of paper clamped between the dies has its upper side in contact with lthe fluid of the upper chamber and its lower side pressed by the fluid into engagement with the face of the lower die; and an electrically controlled indicator the circuit of which is closed by the passage ,of fluid by saturation from the perforated upper die through the sheet of paper to the surface of the lower die.

29. A tester of the character described, comprising upper and lower dies, the lower die being stationary and the upper die movable up and down relatively thereto, said dies having their cooperating faces disposed horizontally and adapted. to clamp a piece of paper between them; the upper die hav ing a fluid chamber and means t'or supplying fluid thereto, and being provided with a plurality of spaced perforations leading from its fluid chamber to its under face, the upper face of the lower die being imperiorate, whereby the piece of paper clamped between the dies has its ,under side in unbroken engagement with the imperiorate face of the lower die, and separated areas of its upper side in contact with the fluid of the upper die and pressed by the fluid against corresponding areas of the lower die; and an electrically controlled indicator, the circuit of which is closed by the passage of fluid by saturation from the perforated upper die through the sheet of paper to the surface of the lower die.

In testimony7 whereof I aiix my signature.

EVERETT A. MAHANNAH. 

